THE judicial review of the Welsh Government’s M4 plans has found in favour of the Welsh Government.

Friends of the Earth Cymru requested the review to question whether the Welsh Government properly assessed alternatives when deciding to go ahead with the £1 billion motorway through the Gwent Levels.

Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, Gareth Clubb, said: “Naturally we’re disappointed by the conclusions of this judicial review.

“But the case against the M4 gets stronger by the day. Just yesterday a report was published by the renowned Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research that said ‘it is difficult to envisage how the M4 relief road can be justified’.

“And the traffic projections used by the Welsh Government don’t stack up: traffic volumes are already 4% less than the Welsh Government predicted.

“We’re going to continue making the case that the Welsh Government shouldn’t be wasting £1 billion of taxpayers’ money on a hugely destructive scheme in one corner of Wales”.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We welcome the judge’s ruling. We believe this is the best solution to transport issues around Newport and that it is vitally important to the economic prosperity of Wales.”

Newport East AM John Griffiths, who opposes the M4 relief road, said: “I’m not surprised having heard earlier comments that the judge made whilst sitting in this matter. To me, the equation remains one of considerable environmental damage if the relief road goes across the Gwent Levels and the need for much better transport which I believe the Metro would deliver.

“I think those that are concerned that the environmental damage would cause have every right to campaign to make their views known.”

James Byrne, Living Landscapes Manger for Wildlife Trusts Wales, said: “We’re hugely disappointed that this decision has been made. This is a blow to wildlife and contradicts the Welsh Government’s supposed vision for a sustainable future especially as our recent report shows that it will lead to a significant increase in carbon emissions.

"The proposed relief road will also destroy 14 miles of historically important wildlife habitats and cost taxpayers over a billion pounds.”

Ian Rappel, Chief Executive of Gwent Wildlife Trust, said: “The decision to spend vast amounts of public money destroying a unique landscape when cheaper more sustainable alternatives haven’t been fully considered is incomprehensible. We have been working to protect the amazing wildlife of the levels for over fifty years, and we will continue to defend them in any way we can.”

Lindsay Whittle, Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales East, said: “This is a disappointing decision but the fight against the black route must go on.

“It is not acceptable to spend £1bn - a figure that will inevitably increase over the years – when an alternative route to resolving traffic congestion on the M4 is available for around one-third of the cost.

“The blue route would not have the significant environmental impact of the Welsh Government’s favoured route which will damage the internationally recognised Gwent Levels. “A £1bn spent on the M4 will also mean much less money for important infrastructure schemes the length and breadth of Wales. We cannot allow this scheme to go ahead.”

Byron Davies AM, Conservative spokesman for Transport, said: “What matters to hardworking people is not the route of the new M4 relief road, but that commuters are finally offered an alternative to gridlock and congestion.

“Labour Ministers must conduct a short sharp review of every route option and finally begin the construction of the relief road which has been subject to Labour prevarication for decades.

“Whatever the final cost of the M4 relief road, it will be far higher because of the failure of Labour Ministers to build it in the years of plenty when they were spending money like it grows on trees.”